Yarn conditioning means for knitting machines



H. JANSSEN Sept. l5, 1936.

YARN CONDITIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 4, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet l .Nu/ 1 mm y. m s Q M m gm u m W FEI; s MM P6 m/ m Y LK -11 ,L B m im rw Q w u N w@ Nm il. W M

H. JANSSEN Sept. l5, 1936.

l YARN CONDITIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES 4 sheets-sheet 2 FiledDec. 4, 1935 Sept. 15, 1936. H, JANSSEN 2,054,422

YARN CONDITIONING MEANS FOR KNITTINGMACHINES Filed Dec. 4, 1935 4Sheets-'Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.'

'Hen-fm1@ BY zfwuw e,

' ATTORN Sept. 15, 1936. JANSSEN 2,054,422

YARN CONDITIONING MEANS FOR lKNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 4, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 4 FLE- 5- IN V EN TOR:

Ziel/ Jmsself,

BY I *AHORA/ Patented Sept. l15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE YARNCONDITIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Henry Janssen Wyomissing, Pa.,assgnor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application December 4, 1935, serial No. 52,752

v 8 Claims.

. My invention relates to means for conditioning the yarn employed in aknitting machine, and

the distance traveled from the yarn supply to the knitting mechanism,and the time required for theyarn to travel this distance, must be takeninto consideration.

As shown in my copending application, Serial No. 13,858, filed March 30,1935, for the Method of, and means for, effecting vapor treatment ofyarn in a yarn fabricating machine, some of these factors are taken intoconsideration so as to render the treatment or conditioning of the yarn,in its stated use, a definite improvement over methods and devicesheretofore employed.

In the invention of the copending application, the quantity, temperatureand kind of moisture are not only so provided and controlled tomaterially improve the fabric, and its production, but all of the yarnsof an entire machine of several sections are so uniformly conditioned,as to avoid the further objection of diiferences in the fabrics producedby such machine, this factor also apparently being rst recognized andovercome by the invention of the said copending application.

However, in the device of that application, the yarns subjected to theimproved treatment as stated, are only the yarns on the packages, orcones, and lengths of these yarns extending from the packages forrelatively short distances toward the feeding, tensioning and knittingmechanisms, in which lengths the tension of the yarns is not underdefinite control, this feature re- Isulting from certain standardpractices in the design of the knitting machine, in View of which theinvention was applied in the most effective manner apparent. In otherwords, by reason of certain space factors, complication and location ofthe many parts of a full fashioned knitting 'machina the invention ofthe copending application was applied in Aas effective manner as waspresented, without substantial change of the machine design, and withoutthe injection of the novel features and construction of the presentinvention.

It is an object of this invention to make use of the heretoforeapparently unknown expedient of not only enclosing the yarn packages andcertain lengths of the yarns extending from the packages, whereby tosubject theyarns to conned moist air, but also to enclose certainworking parts of the knitting machine itself, which although subjectingthese parts to the moisture, which is compensated for by means inaccordance with the invention, provides the substantial added advantagesof greatly increasing the length of yarn that can be maintained ineffective knitting condition, reduces the extent of exposure of the yarnafter having been conditioned and passed to the knitting parts, andprovides other advantages. This result is also obtained without-substantial change in a standard machine.

Another object of the invention is to treat portions of the yarn whilethese portions are either relaxed or under tension, are successivelyunder each of these conditions, or successive lengths of the yarn aresimultaneously relaxed and tensioned, respectively, whereby a greatervariety of conditions, and increased exibility in the choice ofconditions, are obtained.

Another object is to not only more effectively condition a single yarn,and to subject all the yarns of any given group, which should be sosubjected, to simultaneous, or like, treatment, as in the invention ofthe copending application, but also to do so over a greater length ofthe yarn or yarns, and to so -treat all of the yarns for a greaterperiod of time.

Another object is to maintain the condition of the yarn, eifected asabove set forth, to a point as close to its entry into the loop-formingmechanism, as the structure of the machine will permit, which isdifferent in different machines, and in different parts of the samemachine, to the end that the yarn of the supply tothe mechanism lsmaintained in the improved. condition substan-` tially throughout itslength.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure for effectingthe above-mentioned objects that shall be simple and durable inconstruction, economical to manufacture and effective in its operation.I

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent fromthe following description of the illustrative embodiment of theinvention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides inthe novel method, elements, features of construction and arrangement ofparts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an outline view, in rear elevation, of a multi-sectionfull-fashioned knitting machine embodyinga yarn-conditioning device ofmy invention; i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the machine betweenthe arrows 2-2, of Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of a portion ofthe device taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged View of a portion of the device as viewed in Fig.1, but in section to show the interior thereof.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a portion, or removableintermediate section, of a yarn receptacle indicated in the otherfigures; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the closed end of one of the endsections of the yarn receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative example of the invention isshown as applied to a Reading full fashioned knitting machine, only theparts of which, necessary to an understanding of the invention, areshown, the other parts and the operation thereof being well known, asshown and described in the Reading Full Fashioned Knitting MachineCatalogue, copyright 1929, and published by the Textile Machine Works,Reading, Pennsylvania.

As better seen in Figs. 1 and 3, a multi-section full fashioned knittingmachine includesframes I2, a back beam I5, a front bed I8, a center bedI9, a bank of needles 22, secured to a needle bar 24 by clamps 25, asinker-head assembly S, carrier rods I-8 longitudinally reciprocablymounted on brackets 21 on the center bed I9, yarn-carrieriingers 29secured to the carrier rods, a needle presser lever 32 for operation bya usual cam and cam shaft assembly, not shown, a rear support bar 35connected between the frames I2, and a coulier-motion mechanism C, theabove-mentioned parts all being as heretofore employed.

Other parts, as seen in Fig. 3, are also of usual character, locationand operation, but are supported and affected in novel manner inaccordance with the invention, as will herein appear.

Referring to Fig. 1, between each pair of frames I2, there are twocomplete knitting mechanisms of the kind indicated in Fig. 3, each forknitting a stocking blank, and, also foreach two knitting mechanisms sodisposed there is one section of a unitary receptacle A extendingsubstantially throughout the length of the machine, the sections of thereceptacle A being end sections 31 and sections 38 between the endsections 31. Each intermediate section 38, before assembly with theother sections, is open at each end, as indicated in Fig.-5, and eachend section 31, as seen in Fig. 6, before assembly on the machine, isclosed by a wall 39 at its end farthest from the next adjacentintermediate section 38 and open at its end next to such section, sothat, although the sections may be individually taken apart and removedfrom the machine for repair or other purposes, when theyl are assembled,as shownl in Fig. 1, they constitute only one receptacle in which all ofthe yarns are disposed.

At the ends of the receptacle A, and between the sections of thereceptacle, at positions in the transverse planes of the frames I2,brackets or gallows 42 are provided for supporting the receptacle, eachof these brackets, as better seen in Fig. 43, comprising an upright 43secured at its lower end to the rear support bar 35. The upright 43 hasa bottom rearwardly-projecting arm 44, a forwardly-projecting arm 41intermediate the top and bottom of the upright, and further portions 48,49, 52, 53, 54 and 51.

`per and lower glass paneled sliding doors 59 and 62, respectively, inthe intermediate wall of which are glass paneled doors 63 and, in theforward wall of which are glass paneled sliding doors 64. The structureis, in general, of sheet metal construction, except for the glass of thedoors and a pane 61 in the top wall 68, this construction being providedto admit plenty of light to, and prevent the formation of mold in, thereceptacle. Removable bars 1I, 12 and 13, at the rear, top and frontsides of the receptacle A, provide for the more rigid support of thereceptacle, and for the removal of the individual sections, while othersections are retained in position.

A yarn package 14 on one of the supports 58 supplies yarn 15 through aneye 16 on the bracket portion 49, over a guide 11 on the bracket portion52, through a moistening trough 18, through a tension ring 19, through asnapper X, through an eye 82 in a sheet metal portion 83 of thereceptacle andalong a groove in the yarn carrier nger 29 on the carrierrod 5. Similarly, a yarn package 84 supplies yarn 85 through an eye 86,overa guide 81, through the moistening trough 18, through a tension ring88, through a snapper Y, throughan eye 89, and along a groove in theyarn carrier finger 29 on the carrier rod 8; these relations beingmerely by way of example, as there is actually a yarn package similarly,or otherwise, related to each yarn carrier finger of each knittingsection. The tension rings 19 and 88 are vertically loosely movable onguides 90 secured to and de- Each of the snappers X and Y mounted onshafts 93, see Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a body` clamped to the shafthaving arms 94 and 95, through openings in which the yarn 85 or 15 isadapted to pass at right angles to the shaft; the yarn passing throughan eyelet in the arm 94 below its upper end, and downwardly through anopening in the arm 95. A thin leaf spring 96 is fixed at one end to thearm 94, from which it extends tol a position over the arm 95, and beyondthis position to a location over a stationary bar 91 mounted on thebracket portion 54.

Normally, during the stroke of the corresponding yarn carrier finger 29the snapper parts are in such position that the spring 96 is held bythebar 91 olf the yarn extending downwardly through the arm 95, so that theyarn passes freely through the snapper. During the narrowing operationsand at the ends of the carrier strokes, the snappers are operated by ausual camming action to turn the snappers clockwise, see Fig. 3, by aslight amount so that, when the forward ends of the a completelyvaporized medium, at a constant relatively warm temperature and at arate preferably automatically controlled invaccordance with the rate offeed or other requirements of the yarn to the receptacle. By the uniformdiffusion ofthe vaporivzed medium, it affects the yarn uniformly at allparts of its length and, by its mechanical control, it may be imposedagainst the yarn in greater or less amounts as desired, thus providing amuch greater flexibility in the control of the conditions of the yarnthan where it Fis left to the natural or inherent vapor tendency ofstationary pools.

Also, in the device of the copending application, and in any otherdevice of which I am aware,

I am aware, including, my copending applicationv above mentioned, hasheretofore only comprised a moistening box `or receptacle having acrosssection corresponding` tothesmall rectangular area immediatelysurrounding the packages 14 and 84, and defined or surrounded by`, theparts 43, 44, 62.and 48. This area vldoes not include, and has not inany prior device included, any of the definitely tensioned yarn or anyof the working parts of-the machine; whereby this yarn and its supply'orpackage are subjected to the same conditioning medium.

By this invention, the receptacle A corresponds,

in effect, to a receptacle of former construction,

with an extension for enclosing a vgreater length of the yarn on its wayfrom the package to theknitting mechanism.

Also, by the invention, bothV relaxed and tensioned parts of the.yarnare subjected to vapor treatment, whereby the yarn receives the benet ofbeing so treated in both relaxed and tensioned conditions, it beingbelieved that, in the -relaxed condition, with the fibers more openlyrelated, the penetration of the vapor is better, and that,

i in the tensioned condition, the straightening effect on the yarn isbetter.

the prevention of crinkling, which renders difli- The results includecult the laying of the yarn to the many small and accurately relatedsinkers, dividers and needles, with its consequent sleaziness, orhorizontal streak effects in the fabric, and the avoidance, in hightwist yarns, of having these yarns spring out of the guide grooves inthe carrier fingers, with consequent breakage of the yarn.

Although, by the arrangement, certain working parts of .the machine arealso subjected to the vapor, if the latter has a deleterious eect-on theparts as usually constructed, the latter may either be coated, orconstructed of 'different material to j. offset this effect.

It is further, in general, the purpose to extend the vapor treatmentfrom vthe packages and along the yarn to as near to the carrier fingersas may' f easibly be done without the sacrifice of effective operationor other desirable features, as in the example illustrated, whereby,although thereceptacle may be constructed to cover a still greaterlength of the yarn, such as including a further portion thereof betweenthe eyelets 82 andBS and the carrier fingers, this has not been done, inthis example in order that access may be had to the yarn packages fromthe part of the machine by moving the door 63. The door 64 providesaccess to the snappers and other parts, and the rear doors.62 and 59,respectively, provide access to the packages and to yarn-guide parts.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described, by whichthe above-described results are obtained, may be modified in variousways, without departing from the'scope of the invention as set forthherein, and in the appended claims.

1. In a knitting machine, a yarn-supply sup: port, knitting mechanism,mechanism for feeding yarn from the supply to the knitting mechanism,and means for conditioning the yarn for manipulation by theknittingmechanism comprising a receptacle including a portion for locallyenclosing the supply and having an extension from said portion in theform of a branch arm of the receptacle for enclosing a length of' theyarn on its way to the knitting mechanism, and means for conditioningthe'yarn in said portion and in said extension.

2. In a straight knitting machine, a yam-supply support at the rear,between the pper and lower limits of the machine, knitting mechanismforwardly of said support, feeding and tensioning mechanism for guidingthe yarn from the supply' through a length extending upwardly from thesupply, a length extending from said upwardlyextending length forwardlyof the machine, and

a length extending from -said forwardv length downwardly to the knittingmechanism, and means for conditioning the yarn for manipulation by theknitting mechanism comprising a receptacle having a main body guard forenclosing the supply and extending along the yarn upwardly throughoutsaid upward length, and a branch arm ofthe body portion extending alongat least a portion of said forward length. x

3. In a straight knitting machine, a yarn-supply support at the rear,between the upper and lower limits of the machine, knitting mechanism.branch arm ofthe body portion extending forwardly throughout saidforward length, and along at least a portion of said downward length.

4. In a straight knitting machine, a yarn-supply support at the lrear ofthe machine, knitting mechanism forwardly of the yarn-supply support,yarn. tensioning means between the yarn-supply support and the knittingmechanism, and means forwardly of said support, feeding and tensioningfor conditioning the yarn for manipulation by the -knitting mechanismcomprising a receptacle of inverted substantially, L-section having its,up-y right leg enclosing the yarn-supply support and its transverse legextending from the top of said leg forwardly therefrom to enclose atleast a portion of the tensioningvmeans and of the yarn extending fromthe supply through thetensioning means, and means for providing -ayarn-conditioning medium in the receptacle. y

5. In a multi-section straight knitting machine, yarn-supply supportsfor the respective sections at the rear of the machine, knittingmechanisms forwardly of the yam-supply supports, and means forconditioning the yarn for manipulation by the knitting mechanismscomprising a. single receptacle of inverted substantially L-sectionhaving its upright'leg enclosing all of the, yarn-supply supports andits transverse. leg extending forwardly therefrom, and means forproviding va, yarn-conditioningv medium in the receptacle,

6. In a multi-section straight knitting machine, a plurality of gallowsspaced along the machine each'comprising an upright secured at its lowerend to the machine frame at the rear of the machine, a bottomrearwardly-projecting arm and a forwardly-projecting arm intermediatethe top and bottom of the upright, a`nd` a single yarnconditioningreceptacle of inverted substantially L-section having its upright legresting on all of I said bottom arms and its transverse leg projectingforwardly andresting on all of said intermediate arms, and yarn guidingand tensioning` means supported by the gallows inside the receptacle.

- 7. In a straight knitting machine, knitting mechanism, means forsupporting'a yarn package at therear of the machine, means for feedingyarn from said package to said knitting mechanism, and means forconditioning the yarn for manipulation'by the knitting mechanismcomprising a receptacle of inverted substantially L- section having itsupright leg enclosing the package support'and its transverse legextending for- Wardly from said leg, the receptacle therefore havingrear, intermediate and forward walls, and having upper and lower doorsin the rear wall, a door in the intermediate wall and a door in theforward wall, and means for providing a yarnconditioning medium in thereceptacle.l

8. In a knitting machine, a. yarn-supply support, knitting mechanism,mechanism for feeding yarn from the supply to the knitting mechanism,and means for'conditioning the. yarn for manipulation by the knittingmechanism comprising a receptacle including a portion for locallyenclosing the supply and having an extension from said portion in theform of a branch arm of the receptacle for enclosing a length of theyarn on its way to the knitting mechanism, and means for conditionig theyarn in said portion.

A HENRY JANSSEN.

CERTFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,054,422. September l5, 1956 HENRY JANSSEN.

lt is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,second column, lines 44 and 6l, claims 2 and 3 respectively, for theWord "guard" read portion; and that the said Letters Patent should beread with these corrections therein that the same may conform to therecord of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of December, A. D. 1956.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) `Acting, Commissioner of Patents,

